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V A U G H N

The sight before me gave me a headache the moment I saw it. I have zero tolerance for guys like Mason Holiday. His trapping Claire between his arms and manhandling her like that is an absolute no-go.

No one touches my girl.

I walk towards them, striding casually, while Claire looks at me with bewilderment. Mason has her pressed against his car and has his head turned towards me, watching me with curious eyes.

"Mason Holiday," I say when I reach them, and the kid flinches unnecessarily. "I think you have something of mine. May I please have her back?"

My politeness is sarcastic and Mason releases Claire, trailing his eyes over my body from head to toe. He is shorter than me but not that short as to not look me in the eyes.

"Are you marrying him?" Mason turns to ask Claire but she has already moved from her place and is standing behind me.

He jerks his head towards her and I feel her hands grip my arm.

Claire Hill isn't the kind of woman who hides behind men. She is the kind who pretends to be afraid when she doesn't have the solution to a problem knowing that someone will be bound to step in. Her Dad calls it cowardice; I call it smartness. She only uses her energy when necessary. Her act of holding me now means that Mason is the kind of problem I need to take care of.

"You remember me, Mason?" I question him, taking a step closer.

There is a sickly look upon him, something very disgusting that makes my skin crawl. I can smell the booze coming off him and it is just after twelve.

Claire makes questionable choices when it comes to men. I have to teach her what a real man is like someday. Very soon, hopefully.

"Everyone remembers you, Jackson," Mason fumes. "You and Christopher Hill were always spying on me."

"Occasional spying," I correct him. "And do avoid taking Chris's name. Doesn't suit your lowly tongue."

"You're shit!" Mason curses. "That guy has been dead for years now. He's probably rolling in his grave seeing you with his sister—"

He doesn't get to complete his sentence before I grab him by the collar and shove him against his car with one hand. His face instantly turns red, cheeks swelling up as I press hard around his throat.

"Don't you fucking dare insult Chris again."

"Vaughn, let him go." Claire tugs at my arm, trying to pull me away but my attention is fixed on her disgusting ex-boyfriend.

"Listen, you fucking piece of shit!" I slam him against his car again. "The next time I even see you looking at Claire, I'll pull your eyeballs out and put them in your hands. Do you understand?"

Mason gulps, fear distinctly visible in his green pupils. Slowly, after moments have passed, he nods. I let him go, dropping him to the ground and he coughs. I could have continued with his lesson for a little longer but since this is a college campus, I have no intention of causing a scene.

I gather my wits as I turn around only to find myself surrounded by a crowd of students, looking at the scene and clicking pictures of me. Claire has her jaw set and she throws me a look of disappointment. She has moved away and mixed herself among the students to escape embarrassment.

"Get away!" I growl at the crowd. "Show's over."

The students instantly part and Mason Holiday pushes past me to follow them. I look back at Claire and find her leaving too. I quickly grab her by her elbow and pull her towards me.

"Let go, jerk!" she swears.

"You're coming with me."

She pushes my hand off her and stands glowering at me. I notice the redness on her lips and feel my blood boil, knowing that it is Mason's work. I move my eyes down Claire's body just to check if he hurt her anywhere else but regret the action as it only makes me realize how fucking beautiful she is.

She is wearing high-waisted ripped jeans with a crop top that rises above her belly. I lick my lips, quickly averting my eyes from her delicious curves. This thing between us is getting too much. I wonder how much time it will take to finally have Claire give in. I can't wait to have those sexy legs wrapped around me. Bare.

I ignore the inappropriate thoughts and grasp her hand.

"Where are you taking me?" she asks as we start walking.

"In case you forgot, my mom's still in need of convincing."

"But I have classes!" she protests.

"You can take care of those later."

When we reach my car parked outside her college gate, I pull open the door to the passenger seat for her but she just stands there with her lips upturned to portray a frown. I sigh, shutting the door back and leaning against the car.

"Speak." I take a look at my watch. "I don't have all day."

"What was that back there?"

She comes to the point without delay — very nice.

"That was me telling that jerk to back off," I reply disinterestedly. "He was harassing you."

"No. You were marking your territory. Marking me!"

I raise an eyebrow inquisitively. "Marking you, nemesis?"

"Yes."

I chuckle. "I didn't mark anyone. I was just helping you get rid of that psycho of yours."

"Don't lie, Vaughn." She moves to stand in front of me and points a finger at my chest. "You can't just go around stating your claim over me. I'm not yours!"

I grab hold of her finger and drag her to me, clashing our bodies together. I put an arm around her waist, holding her in place as she starts to pull away.

If she thinks that I am here to state a claim then fine — I will state my claim.

"You know what's your problem?" I trail a finger over her cheekbone and hear her hitch a breath as our eyes meet. "You speak the wrong words at the wrong time. You want me to state that you're mine? Then I'll do just that."

"What?"

She heaves and I take the moment of her distraction to lean forward and press my lips to her shoulder, knowing that the sneaky pairs of eyes watching us behind the gates will find that action interesting.

She smells of vanilla today and I inhale a breath, loving the scent of her. A flood of desire rushes through me. If she smells this good with all her clothes on, then I can't help but wonder what she hides underneath all those layers.

"You smell delicious, Claire," I whisper against her neck. "I think I'll enjoy tasting you. I'll take my time, go slow perhaps.."

She pushes me hard and I let her go. She rubs the spot where my lips touched her and I smile amusedly at her actions.

"I hate you, Jackson." The tip of her little nose turns a bright shade of pink. "You love making new enemies, don't you?"

"Of course, I do!" I grin. "Enemies never let you forget how powerful you are."

"Damn it, Jackson!" She stomps her feet angrily. She hates losing arguments with me. "You have an answer for everything."

"Calm down, Claire. It isn't that big of a deal."

"It is to me," she states. "I can't have you barging into every area of my life and ruining everything for me."

"I got rid of Mason Holiday for you. You should thank me."

"Thank you? Where has that ever gotten me?" she snorts, looking away. "Where did it get Chris?"

There is a ring in my ears at the sound of Chris's name on her lips. She has never spoken to me freely about her brother and we try to avoid talking about the accident as much as possible but I know that she is still furious with me. That's one thing she will never forgive me for. I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I was in her place.

The fun element of the conversation vanishes abruptly. "I don't want to talk about him," I say, avoiding her eyes. "Just get in the car."

"I won't."

"Get in the car or I'll carry you in."

"You can't," she argues. "I weigh a hundred and eight pounds."

I lift a corner of my lips and her eyes widen instantly. Before she can escape, I grab her by her waist with one hand and put another arm under her knees, picking her up. Her body fits perfectly within my arms.

Do hell with a hundred and eight pounds! Claire Hill was made for me.

"Let me go, Jackson!"

She kicks her legs in the air as I open the car door and place her in the seat. She keeps shoving at me as I grab the seat belt for her, snapping it shut around her body.

"Never challenge me again."

I shut the door and press a button on the car's key to lock it so that she doesn't escape. I walk around to the driver's side and get in after unlocking it again.

"This is kidnapping! I'll call the cops."

I start the car as I laugh. "What can I say, nemesis? I'm a wicked man."

"You'll burn in hell," she announces, pulling her knees up to the seat and looking out of the window as we drive out of the street.

"You'll burn with me, darling."